About 50 students from Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham joined a youth protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that drew hundreds of participants on Monday in Bath.
The school’s participation in the event was organized by sophomores Mia Pierce, of Harpswell, and Charlotte Crowe, of Topsham. The protest involved five area high schools and was led by a group called Midcoast Youth Activists.
“This seemed like a very good way for students to take action in a civil disobedience sort of way,” Pierce said in an interview, adding that it was her first time taking the lead in organizing a demonstration.
Pierce said she and Crowe were feeling “helpless” about the recent escalation of ICE enforcement in Maine and elsewhere, leading to widespread fear among immigrant communities. That’s when they decided to get involved, she said.
Enforcement actions by ICE and other federal agents have resulted in multiple deaths across the U.S. over the past few months, including the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.
The stated purpose of ICE’s recent activity is to apprehend and deport immigrants believed to be in the country illegally, including those with criminal convictions or who pose a threat to public safety or national security.
Critics say ICE’s tactics have been overly aggressive, sweeping up law-abiding people and creating fear in immigrant communities. They accuse ICE of violating the civil and due process rights of both immigrants and protesters.
An estimated 300-500 students participated in Monday’s protest from schools including Mt. Ararat; Morse High School, in Bath; Brunswick High School; Lincoln Academy, in Newcastle, and Freeport High School. The students converged atop the Sagadahoc Bridge, which connects Bath and Woolwich, early Monday afternoon.
Several Mt. Ararat students also participated in a roughly 1.5-mile protest march from Morse High to the Sagadahoc Bridge before joining up with their peers from other schools.
As they marched, the protesters chanted, “No hate! No fear! Immigrants are welcome here!”
While students at most of the schools walked out as part of the protest, Mt. Ararat was closed Monday because of a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax.
Organizers told The Times Record students who walked out may face disciplinary action, but the risks are minimal compared with what immigrant families are facing.
Morse students’ participation in the protest was organized by seniors Charlie Thelen and Ren Kauffunger. Thelen addressed fellow students prior to the march, standing atop a vehicle in the school’s parking lot and speaking through a bullhorn.
“This must remain a peaceful protest for (it) to work,” he said. “This should be an event of hope, happiness and fun. And while I have you here, f— ICE!”
Seniors Riley Gowen and Max Ricciardone were among at least 100 Morse students who participated in the event. “We are disgusted by how other humans are being treated in our country,” Gowen said.
Ricciardone added: “We’re fed up to the point where we are walking out (of school).”
Many protesters carried signs with messages including “No decent human has a heart made of ICE,” “History is watching,” “We aren’t angry enough” and “ICE out for good.” Several attendees waved American flags.
Dozens of adults also attended the protest. They included Woolwich resident Charles Durfee, who came to Morse to support the student protesters and march with them.
“I’m just thrilled that the kids are getting active, because it’s their country,” Durfee said. “It takes a lot of guts for someone that age to turn out for something like this.”
